How To: Stop Procrastinating

set deadlines

You may hate buying gifts. You probably despise cleaning up your bachelor pad. Working on the database for your client? You shudder at the thought. Set deadlines that must be met by a certain date in order to put more direction and perspective into your goals.

Be stricter with yourself when it comes to deadlines. You aren't back in school and your teacher won't be checking up on your homework every day; you need to track yourself and have discipline.

Here are some ways to make sure you stick to your deadlines:

Tell your friends If you tell your friends that you have a certain project due with a specific deadline, your friends or family are sure to ask how it's going periodically. They'll add to the guilt factor and will serve as a reminder that you are avoiding what needs to be done.

Post-it notes Stick Post-it notes or little memos with important deadlines you want to meet in key spots. If you want to finish a report by a certain date, place memos on your monitor, dashboard, or wherever else you're sure to see them throughout the day.

Use reminders Set your computer or Palm Pilot to remind you of your desired goal.

Avoid distractions Don't set yourself up for disaster. If you know the phone or spontaneous invitations easily distract you, don't pick up the phone while you're working, and screen your calls. If you know you love TV and are a remote control fiend, don't work in front of the boob tube. If you're working on the computer, don't log onto your instant messenger service or keep your e-mail open.

Reward yourself On the other hand, if you set aside 2 hours to work on a project and you were diligent, or even better, you completed what you had to do, reward yourself by watching your favorite movie, or going out with the boys.

Punish yourself Conversely, if you leave something to the downright last minute, don't allow yourself to indulge in a new purchase, or confine yourself to a night of staying at home without company

discipline

What it boils down to is discipline and willpower. Like I said, nobody is going to be hovering over your shoulder making sure that you completed whatever you had in mind — nobody but you. Next time you're pulling an all-nighter because of your procrastination skills, or feeling the burden of stress because of your lingering task, think about that moment and try to internally bottle it.

Then, when faced with deadlines and tasks, remember that feeling of regret when you didn't act sooner — it may help you avoid it the next time.

Speaking of "next time," try to remove that from your vocabulary unless next time becomes this time. Remember, there is no time like the present, and by taking care of things right away, you'll always remain one step ahead of the game in the future.